Nothing Can Separate Us Romans 8:32-39 Recently, I was listening to Dr. Gary Chapman on the radio. He was talking about the 5 love languages: 1. Gifts of service 2. Quality time 3. Words of affirmation 4. Physical touch 5. Receiving gifts Wendi s love language is gifts of service and mine is words of affirmation. Dr. Chapman said that each of us has a love language and a love tank. The idea is that if we speak our spouse s language and fill their love tank, then we should have a happy marriage. I couldn t help but think, Jesus speaks every love language and then some! Listen to what Paul says about the love of God in verses 31 and 32. Notice what He did to demonstrate His love Vs. 31 32 The Bible says that the gift that says, I love you without a doubt, is when one lays down his life for another. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one s life for his friends. John 15:13 (NKJV) Jesus did not die for us because we were good people seeking to add God to our plate for a richer, fuller life. 1
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:6, 8, and 10 (NKJV) While we were in our sin, when we were at war with God, He died for us. Think about that this morning. Let me ask you, Christmas is coming this weekend, who did you buy gifts for those that you love, probably those who return the love? Did you buy a gift for that neighbor that hates you? What about that family member that despises you? What about that coworker that wishes you were working at some other desk or some other jobsite? Will there be anything under the tree for them? That would blow them away wouldn t it getting a gift from you? Just as it would blow you away if someone that disliked you gave you a gift. That s exactly what Paul is saying here the Father had such a great love for us that He would go beyond just saying it, He would prove it by giving His only Son for us. To bring us back to the Father. Out of all the Christmas gifts I have gotten over the years, and some of them have been sweet, the gift of Jesus is still the sweetest. So Paul reminds the believer, if He was willing to give the greatest gift, His Son, to demonstrate His great, extreme love for us, then don t think that He is going to allow the small stuff to get in the way of His love for us. if it s a good thing, He ll give it to you because He already gave you the best in Christ Jesus. Jon Courson Vs. 33 34 2
The Spirit of God spoke through Paul the apostle in verse 1 of chapter 8. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (NKJV) He finishes this amazing chapter with what he started out with reminding us, who is he who condemns? The highest court, the highest judge has declared us not guilty. Justified to render innocent, to be innocent, or free. That s what Jesus did for us! It s not that He just blew it off He dealt with it. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV) It s wiped out; it s taken out of the way. We have now been pardoned because of what Christ did for us on the cross. However, even though Paul reminds us that there is no condemnation, that does not mean we won t deal with condemnation. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. Revelation 12:10 (NKJV) Satan has made it his job to accuse us day in and day out. 3
He s always reminding us of the old life of sin, always pointing out our failures and faults. He s an accuser of the brethren. And he likes it when we defend ourselves before God, but that s not our job. That s what Jesus does for us. He really likes it when we get on the treadmill of defending ourselves. Let Jesus do that! We don t need to talk to the devil, that s what we have Jesus for. He is our advocate, He is our intercessor. So who can condemn us successfully? No one because of what Jesus has done for us. Let these verses sink deep into your heart. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 (NKJV) Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV) I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV) Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV) Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19 (NKJV) 4
Now that we have been forgiven and given a righteous standing in Christ, we are secure from all condemnation. He even reminds us that Jesus Himself has ascended to the right hand of the Father to be our intercessor. Intercessor to be between, to deal with, or to confer with. In other words, Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, dealing or conferring on our behalf. He s our rep He s our rep before heaven, before the Father. I can t think of anyone better to represent me before the Father, than the Son of God who died for me. Now that s someone I can trust! Have you ever gone into place to purchase something, a fast food place or maybe a grocery store, and the employees that you met were just not a good representation of the organization they were working for? I am an employer and it s really important to me that we have a staff that reflects my heart, but most importantly, the heart of the Lord. Who would you want representing you before the Father your friends, your coworkers, your spouse, your kids, your teachers or professors how about your employer? Aren t you glad that the One that represents you before the Father is Jesus, God s Son? The One that was wounded for you That s someone that can be trusted, that s someone I want representing me. Vs. 35 36 Paul reminds the Church that because the world hated Jesus, the world will also hate those who follow Jesus. 5
Notice he points out tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. Think about what some of these imply The word distress the idea here is like having the walls closing in on you. Famine some of you look in the bank account and that s what you re feeling how will we eat? Nakedness most of us will never get to this point but it would not be long before the Christians in Paul s day would be thrown into an arena of lions for entertainment, or lit as torches to illuminate Cesar Nero s garden. Paul reminds the Church that all this would be for HIS SAKE; that s key, for His sake we are killed all day long we are like sheep for the slaughter. It s not an easy thing to be a Christ-follower. There will be tough days; days you will feel like you re all alone, days you will feel as if you re a target for everyone to pick on because you re standing for Christ, because you re standing against evil you re going to take some hits. But let me remind you; don t see yourself as a victim when that happens, but victorious! Vs. 37 We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Not just a conqueror, but more than a conqueror. I would have settled with just being a conqueror! What is more than a conqueror? More than a conqueror to vanquish beyond, to gain a decisive victory. In other words, we are superconquerors! And it s all related to His love. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NKJV) 6
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) We are superconquerers through Him that loved us. Often it takes the trials in life for us to realize how great His power is. Where there are no trials in life, there are no triumphs. Anon Grace grows best in winter. Samuel Rutherford Vs. 38 39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Not death humanities greatest enemy has been conquered. Not angels or principalities and powers talking about the demonic realm. Not things present, or things to come. Not height, nor depth, nor any other created thing. In other words, God s love is superior than any trial, any situation, any power or any person, that you and I encounter in this life. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 (NKJV) I know that many of us would like to have a trial-free life. But most of us would have to admit that in the trial, we find His grace to be amazing, His love to be an anchor. 7
The grand design of God in all the afflictions that befall His people, is to bring them nearer and closer to Himself. Thomas Brooks 8